This cemetery contains 288 Commonwealth burials (202 from the UK and 86 from Canada). 271 are of the burials are named, the other 17 "Known Unto God".

In 1918 the village of Aubercicourt was occupied by Commonwealth troops and a Canadian Casualty Clearing station was estabished, which would account for many of the burials being of Canadian soldiers who died in 1918 and many, of wounds received, in 1919.

The Cemetery contains just 4 soldiers from 1914, including 1 soldier of the Cheshire Regiment, who were reburied here from the surrounding area after the War. All of them were killed in action on 24 August 1914.

1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment

Officers, N.C.O.s and Men of the 1st Battalion, Buried in Auberchicourt British Cemetery

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Private 10303 Frederick GARRAD

Date of Death:

24 August 1914 (Killed in Action)

Grave No:

IV. B. 18.

Unit:

'D' Company

Age:

19

Personal History:

Frederick was born in the parish of Little Bromley, Manningtree, Essex in January 1895, the son of Walter and Eliza A. Garrad, of Mill Lane, Brook Street, Manningtree, Essex. He had an older sister, Rhoda, 3 older brothers, Charles, Walter and Amos, and 2 younger brothers, William and Jack (see below) (1901 Census RG 13/1704). The 1911 Census (RG 14/10261) shows father Walter (Maltster's Labourer) as a widower, Eliza died in the December quarter 1905.

At the time of his enlistment he was employed as a baker, he was 5' 4½" tall (1.64 m.) weighed 117 lbs. (8 st. 5lbs.) had hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His eyesight and physical condition were both 'good'. After training he had grown to 5' 7½" (1.72 m) by the time he was 18 yrs. 3 mths.

According to his Service papers Frederick did not marry. At the time of his death his parents and brothers and sisters were listed as next-of-kin. His father took possession of his war medals.

Military History:

Frederick enlisted at Warley, Essex. on 28 February 1912, aged 17 years 1 month. Initially he joined as Cyclist 1820 in the 6th (Cyclist) Battalion, the Suffolk Regiment, a Territorial Battalion, but on 9 January 1913 he transferred to the 3rd Battalion the Essex Regiment, a Reserve Battalion, becoming Private 956.

After a further 90 days training with the Special Reserve he joined the Regular Army on 9 April 1913, moving from Private 10173, Essex Regt. to Private 10303 Cheshire Regiment. After further training the new recruit was assessed as a "Promising lad".

His decision to transfer again was probably influenced by his elder brother Walter, who was a Sergeant (8953) with 'D' Company of the 1st Battalion. He probably had the misfortune to see his younger brother fall close to where he was fighting to the right of the line at Audregnies.

Frederick's Medal Card shows he entered France on 16 August. He was reported missing on 24th August 1914. For 'Official Purposes' he was deemed to have been killed in action on that date by a War Office order dated 5 February 1916.

At about 3.45 pm on the 24th August the Battalions in action began to retire. Captain Jones, on the right flank with the support platoons of 'D' Company had also it seems, got news of the withdrawal from, presumably, stragglers out on his flanks, because he began to retire down the railway line.

The stragglers moved down the railway line towards the Bois d'Audregnies. They passed a small group of trees, then along a track in a field, into a hedge-bordered lane, then to pasture-land south-west of Wiheries. 'Here', writes Crookenden, 'they ran into the Magdeburg Regiment which was going into bivouac. Of those who remained Capt. Jones and Pte. E. Hogan were killed. Cpl. Crookes, who had previously been wounded, collapsed and Pte. F. Garrad was mortally wounded.'

In all he served 322 days with the Suffolk Regiment, 90 days with the Essex Regiment and 1 year 127 days with the Cheshires.

Click on image to see full medal set

The other three men from 1914 buried here are 1 from the Norfolk Regiment who stood alongside the Cheshires at Audregnies/Elouges; 1 from the Northumberland Fusiliers and 1 from the 9th (Queens Royal) Lancers.

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